Fall Classic Chatter
Bygone baseball by C. Philip Francis
Little known facts regarding one hundred years of the World Series
---While the first post-season series or “world” championship as we know it today was played in 1903, the original idea was used in 1882 when Cincinnati of the American Association (The American League was formed later.) challenged Chicago of the National League in a championship series. They played several games, but constant arguing and fighting between players forced the teams to just quit. The 1903 Series featured the new American League’s Boston Pilgrims, later the Red Sox, against the established Pittsburgh Pirates with the upstart Pilgrims beating the Pirates five games to three. There has been a Series each fall with the exception of 1904 when the New York Giants refused to play a “minor league” team, and 1995 when the games were canceled due to contract problems between the owners and players.
---In the 1914 Series with the Philadelphia A’s and the Boston Braves managers, Connie Mack and George Stallings sat on the bench in street clothes. Stallings was called “The Miracle Man” after bringing his team in first after spending time in last place, and Mack’s nickname was “The Tall Tactician”. The Braves defeated the A’s in four straight games.
---The only former Prisoner of War to play in a championship series was Mickey Grasso who was captured by the Germans in North Africa during World War II. Mickey was born as Newton Michael, and nicknamed Mickey after his resemblance to Hall of Famer catcher Mickey Cochrane. Grasso spent seven years as a part-time catcher for the Giants, Senators, and one season with Cleveland who downed the Boston Braves in the 1954 Series. Mickey entered one game with no at-bats.
---Augie Donatelli began his 24-year major league umpiring career by working softball games as a Prisoner of War for 15 months in Stalag VI. Donatelli joined the United States Army Air Corps, and flew 18 missions as a B-17 tail gunner before he was shot down over Berlin in 1944. He reached the major leagues in 1954, and umpired for the National League the next 24 years that included five World Series.
---Charles “Deacon” Philippe of the Pittsburgh Pirates hurled five complete games in the 1903 Championship Series winning three and losing two as his team lost the first post-season series 5 games to 3. Two years later the New York Giants topped the Philadelphia A’s 4 games to 1, and each of the five contests were shutouts. Three of them were pitched by Christy Mathewson who recorded 373 victories in his long career, and was one of the first five members of the Hall of Fame.
---The only West Pointer to play in a World Series was Walter French who had six years with the Philadelphia A’s as an outfielder in the 1920’s, and struck out as a pinch-hitter in his only at-bat in the 1929 Series. During his two years as a West Point cadet 1920-1922, he did not graduate, Walter was an All-American halfback. As a member of Mack’s 1925 A’s Walter also played professional football with the Pottsville Maroons. When his baseball career ended he returned to the military, and retired in 1959 as a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force.
---There have been many unlikely stars who suddenly emerged to help their team to victory, and one of the biggest upsets was light-hitting George Rohe of the Chicago White Sox in 1906. After shortstop George Davis was injured just before the Series opened utilityman Rohe was pressed into service. He had only three years in the big leagues hitting .278, .212, and .258, but led the Sox with a .333 batting average. White Sox owner, Charles Comiskey, announced, “Whatever George Rohe may do from now on, he’s signed for life with me!” The following year George had a regular infield job, but when his average dropped to .213 last year’s hero was gone by the end of the season.
---The first New York “subway season” happened in 1921 when the Giants defeated the Yankees in the last best of nine Series, and two brothers, Bob and Irish Meusel, played on opposite sides. The first brother act to face each other in a Series were Jimmy and Doc Johnston in the 1920 Classic beating the Meusels by a year. The hustling Jimmy played third for Brooklyn while his older brother handled first base for Cleveland.
---The last Chicago Cub manager to take his team into the World Series was Charlie “Jolly Cholly” Grimm in 1945, and the last Cub manager to WIN a World Series was Frank Chance who beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 in 1908.
---Jose Canseco of the Oakland A’s hit over 300 home runs in his career, and one of the most exciting was when he ripped a grand slam in his first World Series at-bat on October 15, 1988 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
---No Series had more drama than the 1947 matchup with the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees. In Game 3 Yogi Berra hit the first post-season pinch home run, and Game 4 saw the Yanks’ Bill Bevens one out away from the first Series no-hitter when Cookie Lavagetto doubled two men home to win the game 3-2. One of the great catches of all time occurred in Game Six when reserve outfielder Al Gionfriddo somehow pulled in Joe DiMaggio’s long drive that saved the victory for the Dodgers. It was one of Joe’s rare moments of emotion when he kicked at the ground as the ball was caught.
---Game 5 in the 1920 World Series with the Cleveland Indians and Brooklyn Dodgers saw three memorable events: The first World Series Grand Slam was hit by Cleveland’s Elmer Smith off Burleigh Grimes; the Indians’ Jim Bagley was the first pitcher to hit a Series home run; and Cleveland’s Bill Wambsganss made the only post season unassisted triple play.
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